Charlotte Spokes Group

In 1994, two local businessmen realized the need a lot of families experience at Christmas and asked themselves what they could do to help. Their conclusion was to challenge one another to raise enough money to purchase bicycles.

Those bikes would be donated to The Salvation Army in Charlotte and distributed to local less fortunate children through the Christmas Bureau. For many of these children their single wish was a brand new bicycle.

The first year, 17 bicycles were purchased from the fundraiser and enhanced 17 families’ Christmas. The businessmen’s efforts increased from a month long project to a year-round project to raise enough money to make as many children as possible happier during the Christmas season. In 17 years, The Spokes Group had given away 23,373 bikes. At an average of $70 per bike, that represents $1,636,110. For the most part this has been in $10, $20 and $70 donations by a LOT of supportive, loyal, and very generous folks.